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3A predatory mollusc that bores into the shells of other molluscs in order to feed on the soft tissue.

‘It must still run a gauntlet of periwinkles, oyster drills, and mud and basket snails, most of which leave egg masses that cover any undeveloped real estate on the shell.’

‘Oyster drills feed on oysters by drilling a hole directly through the oyster's shell.’

‘The drill is a common predator of the bivalves here in the reserve.’

verb

[WITH OBJECT]

1Produce (a hole) in something by or as if by boring with a drill:

‘drill holes through the tiles for the masonry pins’

‘The preferred location will be somewhere near the battery in the engine compartment and you'll need to drill mounting holes for attaching the transformer.’

‘His feet covered with mud, he smoothes the sides of the wall and uses a stick to drill holes through the top, pushing the straw within the mixture through to the layers underneath.’

‘You need to drill a hole clean through the block.’

‘He told me a story about how when he turns up at some houses to install satellite television the owners are shocked and appalled to find out that as part of the process he will actually be drilling holes in the wall.’

‘Engineers had managed to drill a hole beneath the river, but could not pass the 14-inch pipe through it.’

‘Divers descended into the water yesterday in a special bell supplied by the Norwegian diving support ship Mayo and began work to mark sections of the hull where holes will be drilled to attach cables to lift the vessel.’

‘A private concrete boring firm was brought in and they drilled a hole big enough for the child to crawl out.’

‘He measures the distance between the hooks, and using that same measurement, drills holes and screws two hooks into the soffit on his house.’

‘Construction work - even drilling a hole - can only be done in the summer, when the neighbors are in the Hamptons.’

‘The cable can be passed through a hole drilled in the wall, in a door or window frame.’

‘The specialist drills holes in hidden areas, sprays in the paste, and plugs the holes.’

‘A bogus workman called at six homes in Blackburn claiming to have been sent from a housing association to drill a hole for a cable so a second workman could install an intercom later.’

‘White drill and other cotton materials were available for men's shorts and shirts, and African tailors would quickly run up any required clothes on their hand or treadle sewing machines.’

‘In the British army, khaki uniforms exist in a variety of shades and cloth, pale khaki drill for wear in hot climates and dark khaki barathea for the service dress of Guards officers being two examples.’

‘Dressing utility does not mean cotton drill in shades of khaki, thanks to the innovation of our favourite denim lines and designers.’

‘They are issued their DFCE kit, which includes a uniform of khaki drill.’

‘Virtually every book published is a library-bound hard cover edition, side-sewen and reinforced with cotton drill.’